By Abba – Eku Onyekachi
Abuja
The Special Adviser to the Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, says that Nigeria’s huge natural resources can be used to overcome her current economic challenges.
He however, noted that for Nigeria to unlock her full potentials, the country must develop her own, “home grown solutions,” and take advantage of the limitless opportunities that abound in the country to address its needs, especially in the short run.
The economic expert made the assertions at a colloquium organized in his honour as he marked his 52nd birthday anniversary and presented five books, he authored, with many of them providing answers to Nigeria’s economic challenges. The titles of the books were: What They Won’t Teach You About Nigeria’s Economy; You better Tell Your Side of the Story; The Madness in the Hearts of Men; 10 Reasons Why Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy Has Failed in Nigeria and; A World War By Another Means: COVID 19.
While advising that Nigeria steps up her fight against corruption, Dasha theereforre said that the country must not lose sight of the need to grow its economy, just saw he pointwd out that it would be better achieved by looking more inwardly instead of relying on foreign interventions. He therefore suggested that Nigeria could start by ramping up production which, according to him would attract more foreign investments and ultimately create job opportunities, rake in foreign exchange and strengthen the Naira.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines, Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, D.I Arabi shared similar views with Fasua on the need for government to look inward for answers to Nigeria’s economic challenges. He noted that President Bola Tinubu had in his inaugural speech set the pace with a clear roadmap towards economic recovery and that with people like Fasua having opportunity to work closely with him, Nigeria will in no time bounce back.
He said: “We are happy he has a place in this govt. As he said it, we cannot get outsiders to do it for us. It has to be a home grown solution to the problem that we are facing and we have a president that is giving people the space to address the challenges and problems facing this country. If you look at his inaugural speech he spoke about value addition improvement in foreign exchange earnings.
“Most especially that message of saying use what we product produce what we eat that will reduce our demand for foreign dependency on import and we look inwards to solving our problem.
I do not like to see the economy from the position of its challenges. I see only opportunity and prospects. This economy has not even started yet, hopefully it will start to grow with this administration and all I see are opportunities for development.”
In his goodwill message, former Director General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dakuku Peterside said the major ingredient needed to jumpstart the Nigerian economy is quality leadership which he said is embodied in the current administration.
The event had in attendance a crème of prominent economic experts and policy makers.
*****
